First Group Goes Full Steam Ahead with HR Software

First Group, the leading transport operator, has bought HR software from Sage HR & Payroll for a contract value of 1/4 million. The system will be used to better manage the data of circa 6,000 employees across the 260 UK sites of First Great Western and First TransPennine Express.

Sage HR & Payroll is a new division of Sage, delivering software and outsourcing services from former competitors, Snowdrop (HR) and KCS (Payroll).

First Group will implement integrated modules from the Snowdrop HR product suite: recruitment; online recruitment; personnel records management; training administration; succession planning and employee and line manager self-service.

The Snowdrop software was selected due to a maturity of system functionality that ensures an easy fit with both current and future business requirements. In addition, the HR team was impressed by the ëpushí nature of the system, for example, information delivery by e-mail that prompts further action by the HR team and line managers.

Sage will help First Group consolidate employee data that is currently spread across a number of different databases.

The system will also be integral to FGWís people strategy, a six strand plan that incorporates all core areas of HR management, including learning & development, employee relations and resourcing.

Circa 800 line managers will have access to team data online, to reduce unnecessary administration and assist in key areas, such as absence monitoring and personal development.

The online recruitment system will be used to capture candidate information via FGWís and FTPEís websites, which is then automatically fed into the Windows recruitment and HR applications. Seamless data management like this is geared towards cutting the amount of time spent entering and chasing data, impacting overall efficiency.

The training modules will drive improvements in training needs analysis to increase course attendance. First Group hopes ultimately to achieve a 100% attendance rate, with the knock-on effect of greater productivity across the business.

Sheridan Flavin, HR Director for First Great Western, comments: ìThe software contains a wide range of features that will help us make significant changes across the business. I was impressed not only by the functionality available, but also the level of professionalism throughout the sales process. The people we spoke to were honest and straightforward in a way that has not always been my experience with other suppliers.î